Musician, panist, composer and steel pan arranger, Duvone Dwayne Stewart
was born on September 17th, 1976 in the beautiful island of
Tobago; the smaller of two islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago. Born into a humble middle class family with strong Christian values,
Duvone progressed and completed his academic pursuits in Tobago, with the
completion of his last two high school years at Signal Hill Senior
Comprehensive School.
Making of An Artist
Despite
Stewart’s Christian upbringing, his parents Curtis and Virginia Percival,
who were both musicians, felt that only wide exposure to the artform would
create avenues that would allow their children to develop holistically.
Consequently, his parents allowed Stewart and his brother to be tutored in Music. Stewart began his musical career at the tender age of six (6). Under the Theory and Practical Music instruction of Mrs. Gwyneth Armstrong, he performed creditably at Trinity Music Exams- an initiative of the London School of Music. After accompanying his parents to a steel orchestra practice one Saturday evening, Stewart reported that he picked up a pair of tenor pan sticks and the rest was history. To his and everyone’s delight, that moment marked a connection that would transform Duvone’s life forever. In less than two hours of playing around with the instrument, he was able to play “Mary Had A Little Lamb” with his eyes closed – an early feat and outlet for expression for an otherwise shy young boy that foretold the prodigy that would later develop.
At the age of eight (8), Stewart started playing with the “TRINTOC TOBAGO
ALL STARS STEEL ORCHESTRA” where he learned to master the instrument. His
debut on the steel pan came in 1986 at the age of ten (10). Stewart won the
‘Trinidad and Tobago 12 & Under Children’s Competition’. Stewart’s success
in this competition inspired him to enter the ‘Trinidad and Tobago Steel Pan
Junior Soloist Competition’ in 1987 and two other competitions the following
year. Stewart had two resounding victories in both the ‘Trinidad and
Tobago Teen Talent Competition’ as well as ‘Tobago Music Festival’. His
acclaimed adroitness and competence on the instrument, were highlighted as
he garnered first (1st) place in the ‘Trinidad and Tobago San Fernando Music
Festival’ from 1989-1991, after which he was given the opportunity to
participate in a regional tour. He visited St. Lucia, Antigua, Barbados,
Grenada, St. Marten, and Montserrat, and following his first Caribbean tour
continued to showcase his talent, excelling and gaining critical recognition
at the National level.
World-Class Performer
As Stewart
continued to excel in field of Music, he decided to enter the ‘World Steel
Pan Festival’ in 1993 as a soloist ,where he placed fifth (5th). On his
eighteenth (18th) birthday, Stewart decided to relocate to Trinidad, as he
felt that there were greater opportunities for him to master his art.
Stewart became a member of the AMOCO Renegades Steel Orchestra. At this
juncture in Stewart’s life, he began to study the styles of famous local
musicians such as: Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe, Dr, Jit Samaroo, Clive Bradley,
Robert Greenidge, Earl Brooks, Leon .Smooth. Edwards, Ken “Professor”
Philmore and many others.
In 1997, twenty-one (21) year old Stewart
made his first appearance outside the Caribbean as a part of Lincoln
Enterprise Ensemble, representing Trinidad and Tobago in a tour of Columbia.
From 1998 to 2002, Stewart repeated his appearances, as well as his
victories at the ‘Trinidad and Tobago Pan Ramajay Soloist Competition’ and
the ‘World Steel Pan Festival’.
Stewart showed remarkable potential and depth for a young performer. He
not only impressed audiences with his showmanship and skill, but with his
humility on and off the stage. After achieving all that was humanly possible
in the realm of soloing in Trinidad and Tobago, he retired as a soloist in
2002, with the goal of giving other upcoming panists opportunities to master
the art form through competition.
The Consummate Musician
Stewart started to arrange in 2000 with his own band the NFM Pantasy, a
six-piece steel ensemble. This band has toured Asia, Europe and North
America. In 2001, Stewart was endowed with the opportunity to arrange for La
Horquetta (L. H.) Pan Groove, and is currently the only arranger in the
history of Trinidad and Tobago’s National Panorama Competition that has won
four successive Panorama titles.
Only seven years in the arranging circuit, he has captured first place
eleven times between the different competitions. In Stewart’s short but
memorable stint as an arranger, he has arranged for many bands in Trinidad
and Tobago including Merry Tones, Solo Pan Knights, and Our Boys Steel
Orchestra. In the international arena, Stewart has arranged for
Harmony Steel Orchestra in New York; Calypso Atlantic in France; Steel Pan
de Montangac in France; ‘Big Pan’ Pan Groove in Germany; and Piton Diamond
Steel Orchestra in St. Lucia.
Indelibly etched in the walls of
Stewart’s mind, is his performance for Nelson Mandela in 2004 on his visit
to Trinidad and Tobago. He still recalls the memory of the historic figure
shaking and dancing to his music as one of the highest honours in his life
and to this day one of the greatest milestones in his career.
In his more than 24 years of playing, Stewart has shared stages and
performed with the likes of Len Boogsie Sharpe, Ken Philmore, Jit Samarro,
Earl Brooks, Mavis John, Mark Mosca (Canada), Black Stalin, Gabriel Sandy
(Cuba), De Fosto, Arturo Tappin (Barbados). Orange Sky, Mario Canonge
(France), Tangorra (France), Monty Alexander (Jamaica), Andy Narell (U.S.A),
Karl Davis (U.S.A), Bobby Carcasses (Cuba), Bunji Garlin, Dane Gulston,
Emmanuel Becks (France), T.K. Blue (U.S.A), Randy Weston (U.S.A). Carlton
Zanda, Son De Mass (Cuba), Swing Jazz Band (Germany), Ray Holman, Emmanuel
Becks (France), Sean Thomas, Clive Zanda and John Arnold, German Swing Band.
His vast range and repertoire of performances also includes many hits
from renowned artists including: Beethoven, Michael Jackson, James Brown,
Elvis Presley, Elton John and many more. He has also lectured and performed
in Jamaica, United Kingdom, United States of America Maldives, France,
Germany, Japan and Morocco.
Now based in Nantes, France, Stewart’s
persistence, vivacious nature, humility, showmanship and competence on the
steel pan continue to allow him to reap benefits and make contributions that
have propelled steel pan music and the steel pan movement to a higher level.
With goals of starting a non-profit foundation in his native Trinidad &
Tobago, his personal mission statement that “Music is a mission, not a
competition” is a telling indicator of his maturity, and urges all musicians
to believe in the beauty of their dreams and strive for excellence at ALL
times.